Summer fun!

Hey! I haven't forgotten about you guys. I have just been a little busy. The kids have been out of school for a couple weeks. There has been tennis camp, swim lessons, library trips, a trip to Missouri and so much more. I am trying to make up for last summer of being drained from chemo and surgeries. Forgive me if I neglect the blog for a bit. I really will make an effort to post but I will make no promises. I am trying to really make some great memories with the kiddos. I hope you are enjoying this time as much as I am!

 

 

 

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Ugly duckling

Ugly duckling. Yes, that must be what everyone thought about this poor little desk at the auction. I couldn't believe NO ONE bid on it!

I got it at an absolute steal! It is true that she isn't the most well made but she had the bones too make for a nice redo. I decided to go with Annie Sloan's Graphite for the body and Old White for the drawers. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture. I took it with my archaic phone once I got it to my booth (I forgot my camera). It is a good thing I did. It was snapped up in 2 days!

See, a little lipstick can go a long way girls!
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Hip, hip, hooray!!

Yep! My surgery chapters should now be closed. After almost a full year, I finally had my surgery to exchange out these expanders for the implants this morning! I cannot tell you how excited I am. I have had a total of four surgeries this year: auxillary sentinel lymph node surgery with port installation, double mastectomy with placement of expanders and port removal, ovaries removed, and finally today exchanging out expanders for permanent implants. As I think about this past year, I am amazed at all I have endured. I never thought I would have experienced chemo, radiation, and 4 surgeries within this past year all by the age of 37! It truly has been a whirlwind this year.

Since most people have no experience with expanders, let me tell you about them. This is what a tissue expander (on left) looks like before being placed verses a silicone implant(right side). As you can see, the implant is squeezable.

vs.

Once the tissue expanders are placed, they fill it over time to stretch your skin and muscle. Here is a picture of how it is placed.

You can see, there is just a thin shell of muscle and skin. Needless to say, it is uncomfortable. I was able to adjust to it pretty quickly. The biggest problem with the tissue expanders is feeling pressure and the inability of movement. What has been taken away this past year was my ability to hold my children on my lap and cuddle with them. The pressure of them leaning back on me was too uncomfortable. I am so ecstatic to be able to hold the kiddos and let them lean on me. Just the idea of the implant being able to move is thrilling to me. I can't wait to wear a real bra again instead of a sports bra.

Today has marked another chapter closed on this breast cancer journey. I want to thank everyone for the support and prayers given to me through my journey. As I recoup from my last surgery, I hope you take time to enjoy your Memorial Day weekend! Thank you again for hanging in there with me! It has meant a lot!! Take care!

 

 

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A little luck and $3

The title says it all. Yes, a little luck and $3 is what I had when I found this beauty at the Salvation Army.

Obviously, the beautiful wood scrolling had been broken off the sides.  I knew I could cut off the broken pieces and make the mirror salvageable.  Well, I was a nervous Nelly trying to cut off broken pieces. I was so afraid that I would damage the main scroll work that made the mirror worth buying for $3!  Of course, hubby came to the rescue.  He told me I needed to leave while he cut off the damaged parts because I probably didn't want to really see how he was going to do it.  Ten minutes later, he brought it back in to me.  I used a little bit of gold acrylic craft paint to touch up the sides.

Hubby wasn't too happy with hanging it because it was so very heavy.  Here is the evolution of my mantle.

First, metalwork.

Then, an empty frame.

Next up, trumeau mirror.

Now, a $3 Italian mirror.

I think it goes so much better because of the tile around the fireplace.  Here is a little close up of the vignette by the fireplace. 

I wonder what it will be next?!

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  and Coastal Charm